GAZELLE (she/her)
Gazelle is a PhD candidate in chemical engineering originally from Iran who has been living in Montreal for more than 4 years. Despite being born with a disability, Gazelle refuses to let it define her; instead, she embraces it. Fueled by the desire to challenge societal norms, she aims to increase visibility for individuals with disabilities in society and the media to transform the general perception of disability. Reflecting on her own journey, she wishes she had a disabled role model during her younger years, recognizing the immense impact such representation could have had on her ability to cope with her disability. Gazelle firmly believes that promoting diversity in the media is a powerful path to enhance the lives of disabled individuals and foster a more inclusive world.
What detail of your practice do you always try to put forward?
I constantly reinforce the notion that I am an individual with a unique body and disability. My unwavering commitment in modelling is to redefine the perception of disability in the media and work toward its normalisation. To achieve this, I consciously resist self-criticism and refuse to conform to society's imposed modelling standards. Despite my distinct background in art, I embrace a dynamic approach, always observing and learning, allowing myself to grow and evolve in this journey.
Photos by and/or for Raf, Ciele, Hernest, Pantea Pezeshkan, MAS